Appl Group Invests in KBA for Highly Efficient Cover Production

Thursday, October 23, 2014

KBA Rapida 106 with 14 printing and finishing units

The Appl Group in Wemding, Germany, recently ordered a highly automated KBA Rapida 106 with a total of 14 printing and finishing units. The almost 30m-long press (98.4ft) will be delivered in April next year.

The new Rapida 106 will significantly improve the production of high-quality finished covers for magazines, catalogues and books at aprinta in terms of efficiency. This new medium-format press will have an output of up to 18,000sph. It will be equipped with four inking units, a dryer, perfecting, six further inking units, each with a dryer, perforating and a coating unit as well as a triple delivery extension. DriveTronic SPC direct-drive technology for automatic plate changing, CleanTronic washing systems and inline density control with QualiTronic ColorControl all play a key role in optimising makeready times, saving waste and improving print quality. All of these features make the Rapida 106 the most cutting-edge perfector to be installed in Europe.

The entire Rapida 106 is set up for UV production and features HR-UV drying modules. As a purely UV press time-consuming ink range changes will be prevented in the future. Further benefits of the HR-UV system mean that the sheets can be sent straight to post-press and energy consumption is considerably reduced compared to conventional UV systems. A second coating feed system as well as automatic anilox roller changes with AniloxLoader ensure that both coaters can handle various types of coating as well the quick change between water-based and UV coating systems. VariDry BLUE drying technology in the extended delivery, energy-efficient multi-purpose cooling units and VISUenergy real-time energy monitoring all make this press especially environmentally friendly and energy efficient.

The Appl Group remains a pure KBA user in sheetfed offset with this new investment. The Group operates ten Rapida machines, six of which are large format and four are medium format, totalling nearly 80 printing and finishing units.